Almond and Cinnamon Granola

Why is it so good:

This granola is high in protein from the nuts and seeds which will make you feel energised and satiated throughout the day. Buckwheat is actually not a grain but a seed, and great for gluten-free diets. Replace with rolled oats if you can tolerate them. Making your own granola is very rewarding, especially when your kids love it!

It serves great as a topping on overnight oats & chia porridges, on top of coconut yoghurt & berries, and as an alternative to a traditional trail mix snack.

Store bought cereals often contain high amounts of refined sugars, fats, sodium, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners. These added nasties will only sabotage your efforts to maintain weight and energy levels.

I make a double batch and store in glass jars in the fridge to keep its crunch. I will sometimes halve the mixture when it has cooled and add chopped dark chocolate (70% cocoa is the best!) for a decadent treat.

If you don’t have all the ingredients don’t lose your mind, substitute for your favourite nuts and seeds or whatever you have on hand, leave out the dried fruit to keep down the sugar content if you wish. It really is a good base to help you experiment.

Almond and Cinnamon Granola

Ingredients

1 cup raw almonds

1/2 cup raw macadamia’s

1/2 cup shredded coconut

1/4 cup raw buckwheat (soaked overnight) OR 1/2 cup rolled oats

4 T pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

4 T sunflower seeds

4 T chia seeds

2 T sesame seeds

2 T dried unsweetened cranberries or goji berries

2 T coconut oil, melted

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

2-4 T maple syrup or raw honey

pinch of Celtic sea salt or pink Himalayan salt

Optional Add Ins: after baking, stir in 4 chopped dried figs or a couple of tablespoons of unsweetened dried fruit such as cranberries or goji berries

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to a low 120 degrees celsius.

1. Combine all the dry ingredients and give them a pulse in your blender/food processor, or give a rough chop. You can also leave it chunky.

1. Add the coconut oil and honey/maple syrup & give it a really good mix.

1. Place the mixture thinly on lined baking trays and bake for around an hour or until it goes a lovely golden brown colour, this will take around an hour depending on your oven. Check occasionally giving a gentle stir around. Be careful to not burn.